ps2 shmups in the UK

[w-ring]

Are they any good shmups for the PS2 that are easy to get hold of in the UK? I have Gradius V and R-Type Final, and recently noticed they released Dragon Blaze also. I only got a PS2 recently and for some reason I assumed that to get shmups you would have to get Jap imports.

Also, does anyone have Dragon Blaze on the PS2? Is it good? Does it play at 60hz? I am a Psikyo fan, so am seriously considering picking it up.

[FIL]

Depends on what you mean by easy to get hold of. Quite a lot has been released here but its a question of finding somewhere that actually has them in stock.

Raiden III was released in the uk as was Psyvariar and Shikigami no Shiro 2/Castle of Shikigami 2. Getting hold of Raiden and Shiki isn't so easy now, but Psyvariar still seems to be in stock on Amazon.

There is also XII Stag which isn't awesome but is worth a look if you can find it and if you ever wished shmups had more stick waggling. Shienryu and Shienryu Explosion got a UK release in the Steel Dragon Ex twin pack, its 50hz only and has no tate though, so if you're a purist you're best off steering clear.

If you're a Psikyo fan, as well as Dragon Blaze there is also Samurai Aces/Sengoku Ace and Tengai/Sengoku Blade. Strikers 1945 I & II have had a PS2 release in the uk, but i'd rather eat broken glass than play those particular versions, worst £2.50 I ever spent.

Dragonblaze and Sengoku Ace (and probably Tengai too) all run in 60hz and have tate. As to how arcade perfect they are I couldn't tell you, but Dragon Blaze is always awesome, always.

[BulletMagnet]

There's a thread on here someplace where people were keeping track of all the PS2 shmups released in Europe and the features they included...can't think of a good keyword to search for it though, maybe someone remembers the topic better than I do.

EDIT - Yes, I believe that funkster has found it below, thanks.

[theevilfunkster]

This?

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=3161

[spadgy]

Check out the list on the main Shmups.com page. Not bang up to date but worth a look in. There's maybe 20 UK PAL shmups.

Erm..

Homura
Strikers 1945 1 and 2 comp
Sol Divide
Pysvariar
The two Capcom Classics PS2 releases are good
As are the 2 Taito Legends ones
XII Stag
Raiden III
Gradius V
R-Type Final
Now I'm just repeating what's been said, but there are others.

Gigawing Generations for example

[freddiebamboo]

Also, does anyone have Dragon Blaze on the PS2? Is it good? Does it play at 60hz? I am a Psikyo fan, so am seriously considering picking it up.

DB is the best thing Psikyo ever did and the port is as good as you could hope for with tate, 60hz, practice mode, dragons etc...

[P_HAT]

DB is the best thing Psikyo ever did

No.

[freddiebamboo]

DB is the best thing Psikyo ever did

No.

Yes.

[P_HAT]

DB is the best thing Psikyo ever did

No.

Yes.

You wrong

[freddiebamboo]

No.

Yes.

You wrong

But I feel so right

[spadgy]

Yes.

You wrong

But I feel so right

Though I don't want to turn this one into a vortex, I have to agree with the 'no' side of the argument here.

[spadgy]

Oh, and there was a Pal PS2 release of Gunbird of course

[SteevTee]

Oh, and there was a Pal PS2 release of Gunbird of course

...which included 1 and 2.